Computer Dimentia

Carpool

2012-02-20T10:07:00.001-08:00

Thanks for the article from Glenda Hanson

My children are in private school, and it’s wonderful. They enjoy the school, have great friends, and are learning a ton. They’re far ahead of some of their friends in other schools, and I know it’s the right decision for our family. That being sad, there is one pretty major downside of private school—we don’t have any bus service. This means I have to drive my children to school every day and their father picks them up. It gets to be kind of a drag, because I have to leave my house forty-five minutes early to sit in their parking lot for twenty minutes in the carpool line! WE use the time to talk and catch up, which is nice, but there are definitely days where I have a lot of other things I need to be doing with that time! My husband, who is brilliant, came up with a great solution for what to do with that time I spend waiting. He did a Google search for wireless internet franklin and discovered that we have Clear internet available here! I can now catch up on all of my emails while I’m also catching up with my kids. It’s a win-win!

Sister's first apartment

2012-01-19T10:06:00.000-08:00

Content by Mitch Osborne

My sister is moving into her first apartment. While it is not a big deal to most people, it is to her. I keep trying to remember the first time I moved into an apartment. It was a long time ago and I am sure I was excited too. However, she is clueless. She just thinks you move in and everything is taken care of for you. I think everyone wishes that were the case, but it is not. She didn’t know she had to have direct tv internet, power, and water installed. I also don’t think she knew there were other bills other than rent. She has always been the clueless one of the family. I love her to death, but sometimes I wonder how we could possibly be related. She once tried to make a grilled cheese sandwich without taking the wrapper off the cheese. She is a great sister, but I am worried this apartment might be a little too much for her to take care of alone. I think there will be a lot of phone calls from my sister in the near future.

TV Battle

2011-11-16T13:03:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Darwin Barton

When my husband and I moved last year, we had a huge fight over the new TV we planned on purchasing. I thought that we should get a nice one, but he thought we needed to get the best of the best. I was annoyed by the amount he wanted to spend and thought we could put it to better use for other things. In the end, I lost this battle and he bought the TV he wanted. We purchased an awesome satellite TV package from http://www.direc4u.com/ that had a bunch of HD channels. We never had HD before because we had an old TV that wouldn’t support it. I hated to admit it, but my husband was right about getting the best TV we could afford. I am now a total HD snob and hate watching any channels that aren’t on HD. I get so proud when our friends come over and ask what kind of TV we have because the picture is so much better than theirs! I wasn’t happy at the time but I love our TV and HD channels so much it’s pretty funny. I guess from now on I’ll leave the technology shoppingto my husband and defer to his judgment on what we need to spend on each component.

Early move out

2011-09-14T08:40:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the post from Stan Atkins

I have moved out on my own. All of my friends think I am crazy. They tell me I am too young and that I am not prepared, but I don’t listen to them. I know what I am doing and I know why I am doing it. I have always been an independent person. I love my parents. I really do, but I just needed my own space and I needed to live by my own rules. I found a place fitting my small budget. I have done everything I can to have the lowest bills possible. I found a great company using electricity providers mcallen. I also found a great job. I don’t start for a couple weeks, but I have enough in savings to live off of until I get my first paycheck. My parents are having mixed emotions about the whole situation. They are proud of me for being independent, but they are also sad to see their baby leave. I think it will all be for the best and if nothing else I will learn a lot from the entire experience.

Enjoying our family 4th of July picnic

2011-07-05T09:26:00.001-07:00

Guest post written by Teresa Stein

We used to have these really huge family picnics for the 4th of July when I was growing up. But then a lot of my extended family moved farther away and it was much harder to do that. Well, I'm really trying to revive that old family get-together this year and am heading up the whole thing. I'm not really sure how it's going to end up being but I've done all kinds of planning for it.

I was trying to look up recipes that would be good to ask people to bring for the picnic and as I was doing that, I saw the website hearingaids.Miracle-Ear.com. I read through it some and after that I considered getting hearing aids. I made an appointment and am going to see if I need to go and get them.

I sent out all of the emails to everyone and got some really positive feedback. I guess I'll have to wait until the actual picnic to see but I think that this may be so great that we'll want to keep up this revived tradition.

Making over our backyard space so we'll use it some more

2011-05-03T10:06:00.001-07:00

Guest post written by Stacy Porter

We have this pretty big backyard, but we just never really use the space that we have. I'm really excited for all the improvements that we're making.

I'm trying to be really cost-effective about this whole backyard makeover and coming up with all kinds of new ways to use the backyard as much as possible. I went online to find some ideas about what I could put in the backyard and while I was doing that I ran across the website WildBlueDeals.com. After reading through it completely, I decided to switch over our home internet service to the provider.

We're getting an above-ground pool for the backyard and I think ! that's really going to make it one of the main socializing areas of our home. We're going to get rid of the old picnic table that's in our backyard and actually get some better looking seating through a patio set of chairs and tables. I'm going to put those near the grill and I think that will be an easy way to get the whole family out there and supervise the kids while they're swimming.

Pics Of Water Cooled PC Guts

2009-01-06T05:17:00.001-08:00

Pretty sweet huh?

Pics are from this link.

Another Overly Priced NetBook: Samsung

2008-12-23T05:52:00.000-08:00

Once again we see the more solid technology companies begin to think that they can attach a name to a product and sell it at a significant price. This time it is Samsung.

The 12" NC-20 has some decent specs for a NetBook, but it is fairly pricey for a NoteBook.

Here are some of the specs: "A big-sized sequel to the 10-inch NC10, purported specs include an unnamed VIA U225 processor, 160GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, 1.3MP webcam and a weight of 3.3lbs. Slated for February (in Italy at least), the system is said to retail at $650. " [Gizmodo]

Again, $650? That's like armed robbery when I get can a modest, yet weaker model, for half that price?

Could Apple Survive Without Steve Jobs? [Apple]

2008-12-19T08:15:00.001-08:00

Several sites and blogs are talking and speculating about the after math of Steve Jobs not attending the next MacWorld. The main point of emphasis is: Is he leaving Apple?

While speculation is likely to continue until Mr. Jobs actually confronts the issue, maybe Apple fans should focus on another, closely related topic:

What would happen to Apple should Jobs leave?

While it would be hard to compare a post-Jobs Apple to a post-Gates Microsoft, the results may be similar. The jury is still out on the post-Gates Microsoft result, but changes have been made and will continue to be made throughout the company.

Should Jobs leave Apple, would anything really change? I personally doubt it, at least for the next few years. Apple is doing very well in several markets, including music sales, the i-Line, and there various PC competitors. Apple has gained a respectable share of the computer market, "Mac’s share is now 10% worldwide and an impressive 21% in the U.S." [Apple Blog] Why mess with success?

That level of change would only spur more interest and development in where Apple sees their strong suits. Major changes could prove counter productive to users, and could be seen as an abandonment of the Jobs legacy.

People like familiarity, and might bounce at the first site of a new "regime" making major over hauls to the product line. The only change I would recommend would be to at least attempt to compete in the lower cost PC market (not necessarily the Netbook market though).

Although Jobs is the face and major visionary behind Apple's success, whoever takes the reigns after he leaves, if he leaves, would be a fool to alter the formula to much.

How To Un-Install Inernet Explorer 8 Beta 2

2008-12-17T12:08:00.000-08:00

If you have already fallen into the deep, dark abyss of Internet Explorer 8, here is how to get out of it.

The link to un-install IE 8.

Internet Explorer 8: Beta

2008-12-17T06:22:00.000-08:00

Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 is available for your use and abuse.

Here is the link.

MacTini: The Future Of Apple [Humor]

2008-12-17T05:17:00.001-08:00

With all of the grief that Microsoft gets, it's refreshing to see someone take a jab at Apple every once in awhile.

The following link, goes to a video portraying "someone" giving the rundown on the new Mac-Tini.

Be sure to watch the video.

Chrome Updating Secretly, Quietly?

2008-12-12T05:19:00.000-08:00

Has anyone noticed that you may have different copies of chrome on your PC? After reading a post on Gizmodo, about the latest "release" of Chrome not being in Beta anymore, I decided to re-download it.

After a weird sequence of events, or non-events concerning Chrome download, I navigated to the file folder where the executable is stored.

This is where I found application versions.

It seems that the first of these versions was made on 0.4.154.29, on 12/5/08. The second, 1.0.154.36, was on 12/12/08. The Chrome executable is from 12/9/08.

If one browses these folders (the ones with the version numbers) one will find separate setup executable and what I assume to be a version of Chrome packaged (Chrome.7z).

So if it is true, that Google is pushing more current versions of Chrome to users without them even knowing it, is that a bad thing to you? There can be a difference of opinion on this.

I tend to be of the mindset, for Chrome only right now, that this is a good thing. The user need not worry about finding another version, or upgrading whenever Google sends out their "we fixed it" e-mail. Google can push a new version to the masses without the slightest hint of anyone knowing. Though it would be nice if they told us, formally, that they had changes for Chrome coming.

My only concern would be that an application is re-building another application on your computer without your knowledge. Now while Google isn't a bad group of pirates, there are those who are. If an OS doesn't know that a new application is being built quietly and silently, without user request, to me that could leave some doors unlocked security wise.

Again, for Google to do this is to me, not an issue. It is the possibility of some malicious persons doing it as well.

So knowing now, what you know, do you feel any different about Chrome or Google?

Web Browser Based On Race? [Race and the Internet]

2008-12-09T06:14:00.001-08:00

When you think you have seen it all, there comes a racially specific web browser...BlackBird.

Blackbird is geared towards the African-American community and was designed for:

"Because we know the 20 million African Americans online need tools to build and foster community now more than ever.

Because we know that 85% of African Americans prefer online news and information from the Black perspective.*

Because we know that you are twice as likely to be among the first to discover new trends and use advanced technology compared to the general population.*" [BlackbirdHome.com]

I am impressed with the look and feel of the site, and the browser does look slick (in images seen.) Has anyone used this browser yet?

Alpha 400: Netbook or Netjunk?

2008-12-09T05:21:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of articles out there bashing this very low end addition to the Netbook family. While this new comer to the race doesn't seem to offer much, it may not be as bad as it seems.

The specs aren't that much too look at, especially considering that most of the hardware was outdated 5 years ago. But there is some promise that may get over looked by some critical reviewers: Upgradable.

Technical Details

Alpha 400 MIPS 400 MHz Ultralite 7-inch Mini Notebook General Features: Ultralite notebook
Linux 2.4 Operating System MIPS XBurst 400 MHz 32-bit CPU 128 MB RAM 1 GB NAND Flash Storage
10/100 MB Ethernet interface Supports External Hard Drive up to 160 GB
Supports SD Card up to 32 GB Xiptech application software packages (Xip office, Flash player)
7-inch digital panel 800 x 480 true-color - 802.11b WI-FI

When looking at the specs above, one may notice the ability to use SD cards. You can also use an external HDD via Ethernet. Although this is not a huge deal to some, it may be a big deal to others. If one is simply looking for simple word processing and or business related tasks, this tool might not be too bad.

Microsoft Clothing: MS-DOS-ome!

2008-12-08T06:42:00.000-08:00

Several sites and blogs have been showing a few (at least one) article of the new Microsoft clothing line.

Although some may see this as tacky or cliche, this blogger feels that this is a very good idea! I mean, how many old school DOS peoples wouldn't want this shirt above, declaring their competency in the ancient art of command line processing?

I have only seen this one MS-DOS shirt so far, but I am sure a Windows 95 throw back shirt should be next! Besides, you haven't had OS issues, till you've used Windows 95!

HP Mini Gets Decent Price Break

2008-12-08T06:36:00.001-08:00

According to Gizmodo, the HP Mini 1000 is getting a pretty decent price cut: $40.

That's nothing to sneeze at considering it is approximately 1/4th of the Netbooks current price. Hopefully this is a new trend that may even see this poor blogger getting a new Netbook for Christmas.

Click here for the Gizmodo article.

Amazon.com Netbook Deals

2008-12-05T05:13:00.001-08:00

A brief browsing at the Amazon.com website, searching for Netbooks turned up some decent deals.

ASUS Eee PC 2G Surf (7-Inch Display, Intel Mobile Processor, 512 MB RAM, 2 GB Hard Drive, Linux Preloaded) Galaxy Black is only $259.72. An 8GB black Eee with Linux is only $270.

That's not bad prices for older models. The prices range from mid $200 - $400's, depending on what you are looking for.

The prices aren't bad, and you can probably get some free shipping thrown in there too!

Windows 7 Beta 1 In January?

2008-12-03T10:06:00.000-08:00

According to an article on Gizmodo, Windows 7 Beta 1 may be available to MSDN developers and the like around January 13th.

While this is not necessarily a release candidate, it definitely shows progress towards a final ship date, hopefully in Q4 of 2009.

Does anyone plan on tempting fate with the new Beta release of Windows 7?

Google Pack

2008-12-02T07:36:00.001-08:00

One of the somewhat obscure Google products is the Google Pack. Essentially what Google Pack is, is a collection of specific software to make your computer experience better, more productive and more Google enhanced.

Some of the Pack's features are well know, such as Firefox, Adobe Reader. Some are not as well known, such as Spyware Doctor and Picasa.

Google desktop is a Windows Vista favorite, but I am not sure how well it runs on XP (theme wise.) I would say the Pack is not all that bad, but maybe a bit un-warranted given the standard collection most PC's run these days.

For the Pack and more Google products, click here.

The Next Good OS: Cloud

2008-12-02T05:43:00.001-08:00

From the makers of the gOS comes Cloud. According to the website, "Cloud is a browser operating system that combines beautiful design with sophisticated technologies to make the PC faster, safer, and easier."[Cloud]

While the idea of running an OS via a web browser is new, it is definitely intriguing. Since the OS is not available right now, the footprint isn't know. It would be assumed that it will be small and compact compared to current OS's.

One benefit seen on this is the seemingly virtual way the OS will be run. You have to have an OS booted to run a browser, right? So if you have an OS loaded, and then you run Cloud, you are effectively running a virtual machine OS.

Here is the features list:

Feature List

Web browser with Icon Dock Inside
Network Manager
Power Button
Boot to Window XP/Vista or Linux OS
Battery Life Indicator
Volume Controls
My Files & Viewers

Specifications & Requirements

Standard x86 Processor
128 MB Ram
35 MB Storage (Can be smaller or larger)

Preloaded in HDD/SSD of PC
Preloaded in on board flash storage of MB
Preloaded in CD as Windows Installer

Cloud does not require additional hardware and is compatible with any operating system.

Black Friday: What's Your Take?

2008-11-26T11:24:00.000-08:00

With all of the rampant pre-black Friday sales materials floating around, the real questions is simple: "What, if anything, does it mean to you?"

I have seen some seriously deep discounts on Blu-Ray players and HD TV's. But what if what you are wanting to buy is not on sale, for example the Wii. What then? Do you just buy some soon to be outdated technology because it's on sale?

Some, if not most, of the items really reduced in price will be outdated and not made again. That is why they are getting such cheap cuts. But the good stuff, the stuff that is new and oh so very pretty, well, the deals won't be that good.

A good rule of thumb for "Black Friday" ads is this: If you planned on buying that "type" of technology, check it out, otherwise, buy what it was you were going to buy in the first place. Don't just buy something because it is on sale!

Google Chrome Goes Non- Beta in 2009

2008-11-24T05:35:00.001-08:00

I never thought I'd live to see that day (and still might not) that Google actually released something from beta into a full fledged release!

Hopefully this "release" will include some decent, Firfox like, plug-ins or add-ons. Something along the lines of FireBug or FireFTP would be very useful, and handy. I have seen several blogs and forums begging Google for these features.

Chrome has a lot of potential, but so far their have been no updates or patches or any news of fixes for it's ailments. If I need testing or work related Internet, I use IE 7.

The other side of the coin, aside from functionality and what is released, is what kind of role will Chrome take in the future of the browser wars? Chrome is thought to be very popular. It is great for quick browsing and such. Is Microsoft worried about losing stock? Even with IE 8 in Beta right now? And let's not forget about the mighty Firefox.

The browser wars are heating up more and more and it seems that Chrome is destined to take it's place on the medal podium, somewhere...but where?

Do You Twitter?

2008-11-20T06:05:00.000-08:00

Although it has been around for some time now, it seems that the idea of "Tweeting" is just catching on to some groups.

I personally just recently started taking a look at Twitter. I have spent some time with Facebook and MySpace over the years, but "tweeting" was new to me.

The social networking phenomenon has exploded with the likes of Facebook and MySapce in recent times. To some, this idea is as foreign as Kimchi. The idea of blurting out "what your doing" to a vast audience of people around the world whom one does not know, can be a little intimidating.

To some though, this can be an invaluable tool for venting or simply keeping connected to friends and co-workers via a simple Internet interface.

The service is free, and can be used with a variety of plug ins (Digsby, TwitterFox) and can even used to send the "tweets" to your cell phone.

Twitter isn't like your typical Instant Messaging, where you relay text in real time to others you are connected to. With Twitter, you simply post a message, of no more than around 160 characters, and anyone and everyone can read it. Anyone viewing you message can reply to it directly or in general.

There are some private replies and "Direct" messages as well with Twitter. These can be for more of a one on one conversation.

All in all Twitter is not a bad form of social networking, nor is it a Instant Messenger killer. In the end it begs me to ask the simple question: Who needs to be that connected?

Target + Netbooks

2008-11-18T08:35:00.001-08:00

Recently it seems, that Target has started selling and pushing Asus Netbooks. The models in stores tend to be older, more out dated ones, but decently priced (for Netbooks.)

According to their website, rraget now sells several brands and configurations of Netbooks. This is a delighfully surprising find.

Some of the manufacturers listed were Asus, HP and MSI. Their Prices are competitive, but not a major under cut of current market rates.

As far as can be seen, most of the new Netbook models and styles can only be found via the online store.

It tends to make one wonder if this is a play at the market share of Amazon. Amazon has long since sold countless varieties of Netbooks, even before they were popular.

Molecule: Mega Computer

2008-11-18T05:16:00.001-08:00

This new super computer called "Molecule", is impressive to say the least. With an astounding possible 10,000 Intel Atom processors, it's a whole lot of computer love.

Here are some more stats on the beast:

• High concurrency with 20,000 threads of execution — 40 times more than a single rack x86 cluster system
• High throughput with 15TB/sec of memory bandwidth per rack — over 20 times faster than a single rack x86 cluster system
• Greater balance with up to three times the memory bandwidth/OPS compared to current x86 CPUs
• High performance with approximately 3.5 times the computational performance per rack
• Greener with low-watt consumer CPUs and low-power memory that deliver 7 times better memory bandwidth/watt
• Innovative Silicon Graphics Kelvin cooling technology, which enables denser packaging by stabilizing thermal operations in densely configured solutions
• Operating environment flexibility, capable of running industry-standard Linux(R) implementations, with Microsoft(R) Windows(R) variants on some configurations

[Gizmodo]

Vista Capable Debacle

2008-11-17T05:39:00.001-08:00

There are some people who were brave enough to trust the above sticker and upgrade their machines to Vista, and watch the failure commence.

Now there are lawsuits and trials waiting to be had to figure out why these stickers were placed on machines that either could barely run Vista, or not handle its' massiveness at all.

I had a 4 year old laptop that could run it; slowly, without my NIC working, etc., but it worked! It seems that everyone feels the right to sue everyone over every little thing, so why not sue Microsoft over false labeling.

According to this article, posted on Gizmodo, Microsoft "lowered the hardware standards to appease Intel." That would be an interesting change of events.

But at the end of the day, Microsoft still pushed the sticker to be on sub par machines. That's' a fact that's not going to change, regardless of who they point their fingers at.

Will Apple Design Their Own Search Engine?

2008-11-13T10:04:00.000-08:00

According to an article on TechCrunch, it seems that Apple may be creating their own search engine.

While this may come as surprise to many (including my self) it is not that new of an idea for a computer mogul to "get in the search game." Microsoft has been doing it for years.

While Apple is tethered to Google's browser for Safari, making a break might not be a bad idea.

Proof That Macs Can Crash Too

2008-11-12T05:23:00.001-08:00

This image, from Gizmodo, shows the very simple fact that yes, Macs can lock up, crash, s#%t-the-bed, etc.

According to the Gix post, this is an iPhone display at an AT&T store. The system is a Mac computer running whatever Mac OS. The displays used to run XP.

The gray box in the center of the display is called a "panic" message. Something about the system halting. Interesting...

Windows 7 Microsoft Pages

2008-11-07T09:52:00.000-08:00

Upon some snooping around today, I came upon the official Microsoft Windows 7 page(s). The pages are not that much, except they offer some low level information about the upcoming OS.

The site also gives links to specific information for developers, enterprises and the "press." I also found the "Windows 7 Team Blog." This blog has some interesting tid bits about Windows 7 including differences between it and Vista / XP, new features and product development phase updates.

The blog does talk about the unveiling of Windows 7 at this years PDC in LA. Some quotes from people who were given pre-Beta loaded machines for demos are available there as well, if you wanna get some inside opinions on it as it is so far.

Windows 7 Taskbar Improvements

2008-11-04T05:17:00.001-08:00

Gizmodo has a video of the new Windows 7 Task bar in action. It looks to be impressive and neat.

I am still a a little confused as to how this is really different from XP or Vista's task bar. I mean, the icons are larger, but you still can drag and drop to it. It doesn't seem to be that different to me.

Maybe I am missing something here. I must say that I love the wallpaper on the PC. It gives one the underwater feeling.

Uber Cheap Netbooks? There Will Be a Catch!

2008-11-03T05:16:00.000-08:00

Ever since the birth of the Netbook, or rather the classification of sub notebooks as Netbooks, many including myself have asked the question: Why are they still so damn expensive?!?

As far as overall pricing some Netbooks range from $300, for the older model Asus Eee, to $600 for a HP Netbook that is the same as a Celeron laptop.

While there is speculation that these costs will be coming down with newer and cheaper chip sets and the falling price of RAM, to believe that any of these Netbooks will ever really be below $200, to me is folly.

LCD's simply can't come down that low and there is still a lot of electronics in the machines. So when I hear, or see someone offering or talking about an $99 Netbook, I am skeptical at best.

It seems that to get the cost low enough that the average person would look twice at a Netbook, they have to come with a "data plan." This is like your typical cell phone cellular minutes and data plan where you sign up for 1 - 2 years and get deep discounts on the hardware. I can't imagine who, aside from the heavy traveler, would ever need this kind of deal.

It is of my own personal opinion that the best way to get Netbook costs down is to stop trying to make laptop spec'd Netbooks, and make less powerful devices.

Google Chat Now Comes With SMS

2008-10-31T05:06:00.001-07:00

The all powerful and knowing what gadgets you really need / want company Google, has added the ability to send SMS messages through GTalk (Google Chat.)

This is an excellent idea, in and of itself. But I have 2 questions:

Can you SMS someone who is offline?
Does this work with GMal Chat?

Google Cuts Back On Perks, Still Better Than Your Job

2008-10-30T05:22:00.000-07:00

According to an article posted on the New York Post, online edition, it seems that the company known for it's incredible employee perks, is reigning in the slack a little.

According to the article, Google had released a inter company memo stating that they were trying to "to find areas where efficiency can be improved." That means, in this case, cutting back on some freebies like lunch items and some food items in general.

This downgrade in corporate splurging may be the result of Google's stock. It has seen a free fall over the last few months, losing up to 48% [NYP]. The stock is still very valuable, closing yesterday at $358 a share. The stock has been as high as $593.08 a share in early May.

Although the employees at Google will feel the corporate pinch of greed, they will survive, and live to fight another day.

Why You Should Be Excited About Windows 7 (Unless You Use A Mac)

2008-10-29T11:18:00.000-07:00

Gizmodo has an excellent article on some of the improvements for Windows 7 over Vista. Personally, I never had much of a problem with Vista. I know few people who did, actually. I do admit that there has to be some truth to the pummeling it has taken over the past few years, or Microsoft would have absolutely denounced them long ago. From the looks of this article, they won't have to when 7 is released.

The article goes into some of the major improvements, which I will outline generally (I didn't do the research, I can't take the credit!)

Applications running on Vista should run on Windows 7.
Systems running Vista will see an improvement in speed.
Notebooks should get better battery life.
Windows 7 will be more reliable from the gate.

Having said all that, one must take into consideration how these things will be accomplished. Some of the new features and improvements outlined in the article are:

Windows 7 window memory manager
Application Crash Resiliency
Problems Step Recorder
"Sandboxed" device drivers
All hardware updates via Windows Update
Better background management
battery efficiency reporting.

It sounds like Windows 7 will be what Microsoft wanted Vista to be. Hopefully, it will be and more. My big question is...will Microsoft make the upgrade cheap to get people away from Vista?

Microsoft Office Live

2008-10-29T06:08:00.000-07:00

We all believed it was only a matter of time before Microsoft joined the online (and free) office bandwagon. The question is how good is their version?

As the image above states, the version of Office Live is limited in scope and capability. You can only use 3 of the MS Office tools, and they will have limitations.

The initial look and feel of the site is similar to Googles online Office. It has a bit more asthetics, but is essentially the same layout.

You can create workspaces that can be shared and viewed by others as well as upload existing files for sharing.

The "Word" portion is what I believe to be called "Note." It has version control and looks like a watered down version of MS Word. The "List" document is essesntially a smaller version of excel. It starts out with one cell and more can be added.

So far, that is all I have had the time to play with. I will post more as I get to it. So far, so good. It is a bit slower than Googles, but it has some more functionality too (Task list, calendar events, etc.)

Also, just FYI, the site doesn't work with Chrome from Google.

New HP Netbook

2008-10-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

While I find the insanely flooded Netbook market intriguing and possibly the future of mobile computing, it is easy to get tired by the same old, same old.

HP's new Netbook, the Mini 1000, is not the biggest jump from the typical netbook, containing "10.2-inch netbook that comes in at under 2.5 pounds and packs a 1.6 Ghz Atom processor, 16 GB SSD and up to 2 GB RAM " [Gizmodo]

What will make this netbook different in the future is the custom OS developed by HP. Currently the Mini 1000 runs a version of XP, which is common in the Netbook realm.

The OS is said to be based on a version of Ubuntu, a Linux distro.

While this is new to the current market, it is not new all together. Hopefully this time around the new OS will be more user friendly and less of a software engineers toy.

Windows 7 on a Eee?

2008-10-28T12:47:00.000-07:00

According to an article on Gizmodo, it seems that in the future, Asus Eee's will be running Windows 7.

That is awesome news, if Windows 7 is as good as it is being made out to be. I still think Vista Basic would be a good fit for netbooks, but that is just my humble opinion.

New Dell Mini-Inspiron

2008-10-27T05:21:00.000-07:00

The new Dell Netbook is as beautiful as it is large. There is a great review of it at Gizmodo.

The specs look decent, but I feel they still don't fill in the price tag ($599). Intel Atom Processor, maybe 1 GB RAM, small hard drive (40 - 80GB), nothing special. The only thing truly interesting about this Netbook is the size. It very nicely runs on a 12 inch screen.

Wait for the XP or Linux model to come out.

Experimental Firefox 3.1 Build Gets Awesome Multitouch Gestures on Macs

2008-10-23T05:22:00.001-07:00

While I am not a huge fan of multi-touch (yet) and really don't see a lot of use for it (yet), it is interesting that it will be an imminent feature of computers in the not to distant future.

According to an article on Gizmodo, Firefox 3.1 may have some secret Beta for implementing multi-touch on new Macs. While this is very cool news, I still ask the question, why?

I know the new Macbooks will have some multitouch support but there seem to be several other machines that have the same capabilities.

Untr-Portables: Pomera Digital Memo

2008-10-21T07:17:00.000-07:00

Another ultra-portable semi-useful device has made it's way into the spotlight recently.

The Pomera Digital Memo DM10 is not much to look at, or use, but it is well, fairly new. Currently only available in Japan, it is simply a bad ass notepad wanna be that'll run about $250 - $300.

It has but one purpose, to take notes. This would be very useful, but not cheap enough, for college students or research scientists. Maybe one day this little note taker will have more gusto than keys, but not today.

Original article here

Touchscreen Eee PC Due Early 2009, Will Run Windows 7 Later Says Asus CEO

2008-10-21T05:20:00.001-07:00

Since the Asus Eee has been known to run several OS's ranging from Linux distro to full blown Windows XP, it may not come as a surprise that one day they will run Windows 7.

Asus does have a good feel for the market of netbooks and disconnected devices, such as gaming and multimedia consoles, and they are the market leader with sub-notebooks.

But why Windows 7? Why not Mac OSX or Windows Vista Basic?

Windows 7 will simply be a better version of Vista, with some new features. Why start there? Isn't there some form of happy medium where an OS can be an OS? I find it hard to believe that any version of Windows post XP will be smaller than 4 GB of physical hard disk space.

So why use it? Why can't the Linux distro be tweaked and made very "Windows like?" Just one Eee fanboys opinion.

iKit Mini-Mini PC

2008-10-21T05:07:00.000-07:00

I am a sucker for small for factors and low end specs, if the cost is low too. The Imovio iKit is 2 out of 3 in that department.

The iKit is basically a compact, yet powerful PDA. Although it does run a Linux OS, is fairly upgradable and does have some options, it is still a few clicks away from full fledged Netbook, and almost as expensive.

The specs are:

Processorr Marvell PXA270 312MHz

Operating System Linux 2.4.19

User Interface GUI : Proprietary plus Trolltech QT/E 2.3.8

Display Icons / Indicators
- Battery signal strength
- WiFi active/inactive/level
- Bluetooth® active/inactive
- Date & time

Home screen: 8 icons
- Email, launches Email application
- IM launches Instant Messaging application
- Web browser, launches browser application
- Contacts, launches A-Z listing contacts
- Multimedia, open 2nd level icon screen with
- icons for, Video player, Music Player, File manager
- Wireless, open 2nd level icon screen with icons for
- BT, WiFi
- iKIT, open 2nd level icon screen for Display settings,
- Date & Time, Sound settings
- Utilities, Open 2nd level icon screen with icons
- for PC Sync

Keypad
- QWERTY/AZERTY + numeric keys, other
- languages optional
- 2 soft keys, 5 quick access keys, multi directional
- key, power on/off key, volume up/down key
- Backlight: White

Speaker
- 16 mm built-in, monophonic

Memory Internal
- ROM : 128 MB, RAM : 64 MB SDRAM
- User data : 12MB, User media files : 23MB

Memory External
- Micro SD (up to 8GB)

Display
- 2.8 inch QVGA, TFT, 260 000 colors, landscape

Camera
- 0.3 MP fixed focus camera (Option)
- Viewfinder: 15 fps, 16-bit color depth
- Image format: JPEG, fine and standard
- compression, user selectable
- Digital zoom: Up to 3X smooth digital zoom with
- 7 steps
- Effects: Color, black & white, negative, sepia
- Capture time: less than 2 seconds to return to
- viewfinder mode after shuttered

Vibrator
- Built-in for use as an alert

Dimensions
- 95 mm (L) x 65 mm (W) x 15.5 mm (H)

Weight
- 113 g (with battery)

Form factor
- Clamshell

Connectivity
- Bluetooth® 2.0 with EDR, supports wireless
- stereo headset
- (A2DP) & DUN profile
- WIFI® IEEE 802.11 b/g

Connector
- Mini-USB 1.1 used for charging, PC data exchange
- and wired stereo headset.

Browser
- Web browser Opera Mini 4.1

Java
- JTWI / JSR75 compliant

Email Protocols
- POP3 / IMAP / SMTP

Instant Messaging
- Support MSN

Audio Formats
- MIDI, WAV and MP3

Image Formats
- JPG, BMP, GIF and PNG

Video Formats
- 3GP, MP4 and AVI format, Maximum size
- QVGA
- 25 fps video playback for QVGA size video
- clips
- Support full-screen display

Contact List
- Maximum 2 000 records

Calendar
- Maximum 1 000 events

PC Sync
- With Outlook 2000/2003 & Outlook Express v6
- (emails, contacts, calendar)

Personal Features
- Calculator
- Media folder
- Notepad
- World clock
- Alarm clock
- Stop Watch
- Countdown Timer

Battery
- 1050 mAh, Li-ion
- Standby Time; up to 250h
- Power-up Time; up to 3h (25% data download
- per hour)
- Gaming Time; up to 4h (java game)
- Charging time: 2.5-3.5 hr to full charge from flat
- with device power off

Colors
- Velvet Black, Satin White – other colours available
- to order

Box Contents
- iKIT
- Battery
- Mini USB / USB cable
- USB stereo earpiece
- Charger
- User guide and CD

Personally I love this device. The problem is the cost. If you are someone who is in the market for a modifiable PDA that has some sweet perks, then this may be a good place to start.

Otherwise, this is almost a netbook in price and specs. Why not just get a netbook? If I could find one for around $100, I would highly consider buying one.

$299 Asus Eee 4GB In The Wild (Target)

2008-10-20T07:19:00.001-07:00

The other day I saw an amazing thing in the world of electronics: an actual Asus Eee at a Target store. It was the 4GB model and it was going for $299.

They carried two colors, black and white. The specs were pretty simple:

4GB SSD

512 MB RAM

8.9" LCD

Linux OS Pre-Loaded

802.11 b/g Wi-Fi

Sorry the specs pics got pretty blurry.

Although the $299 price tag wasn't too bad, for a model that's been around for over a year and is the current bottom feeder of the Eee line, it should have been less than $200.

Firefox Mobile (Fennec) Available For Downloading

2008-10-20T05:35:00.000-07:00

Mozilla's Fennec, mobile browser is available for use.

It is usable on Windows, Linux and Macs, even though it is a "Mobile" browser.

Here's the Link

Windows Vista SP2 On The Way?

2008-10-20T05:25:00.001-07:00

According to a post on Gizmodo, Vista may be getting a new service pack in the near (or distant) future.

The Beta should be out sometime soon for specific users.

Cloud Computing: Is The World Ready?

2008-10-17T05:04:00.001-07:00

So is the world, or at least the mainstream business world, ready for "cloud computing?" Google has put a lot of their eggs in this technology basket, while Microsoft tends to dismiss it as a futuristic myth.

So the question is, is anyone really making these types of applications yet? I know people that use the Google apps. I have seen an Open Office online suite as well. It doesn't seem that the concept is too main stream right now.

With hardware costs coming down and storage capacity going through the roof, what is the need of cloud computing?

With cloud computing, you can get back to the good old world or dummy terminals. PC monitors, with no brains and almost no capacity. They hook into a server, and the server does all the work, for all terminals.

That is a cheaper, yet less efficient way to get the software needed (on the servers or Internet) to the employees without buying the hardware and licensing the company doesn't need.

It has an interesting present, and an even more interesting future. But I would agree that the world is not ready for full blown cloud computing.

Asus Reeeturns to Its Roots With $300 Eee PC 701SDX

2008-10-16T05:16:00.000-07:00

According to a article on Giz, from Eeepcnews.de, Asus may be very well going to what most of us think a Netbook should be...CHEAP!

The article states the are those that believe that Asus will be selling a lower cost model of the Eee sometime in the near future...for $300.

Although this won't be a record breaking speed machine, it will probably serve a good purpose to those who need small, compact and cheap PC's.

Hopefully the Eee PC 701SDX will be out before Christmas,

so we can see this miracle for ourselves!

Firefox 3.1 Beta With 3D Tabs!

2008-10-15T05:26:00.000-07:00

Firefox 3.1 has a Beta release available for your usage. One of the new features will be the 3D tabs. Pretty slick!

The beta site is here.

New Apple Laptops, not cheaper, nor better

2008-10-14T11:35:00.001-07:00

I just read an article on Giz that sums up a portion of my discontent with Apple: They charge too much for too little.

Example:

"Let's just look at the 13-inch MacBook that was just announced, for example. For $1,300, it comes with a 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive. Over at Dell, I can grab an Inspiron 13 laptop with a 13.3-inch screen, a 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo, 3GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive. For $750. For those of you keeping score at home, that's a $550 difference, and the specs are better on the cheaper Dell." [Giz]

I am with this statement all the way. The worst part of this whole thing is that some Apple users believe that they are better than everyone just because they are willing to shell out $400 - $1000 more per laptop for the same technology.

When Apple is willing to meet the middle class person half way on price, I will meet them half way on features.

Windows 7 To Be Next OS, Not Just a Code Name

2008-10-14T05:11:00.000-07:00

The next version of Windows will simply be called...Windows 7. This, according to an article on Gizmodo's website, was done for simplicities sake.

"The decision to use the name Windows 7 is about simplicity. Over the years, we have taken different approaches to naming Windows. We've used version numbers like Windows 3.11, or dates like Windows 98, or "aspirational" monikers like Windows XP or Windows Vista. And since we do not ship new versions of Windows every year, using a date did not make sense. Likewise, coming up with an all-new "aspirational" name does not do justice to what we are trying to achieve, which is to stay firmly rooted in our aspirations for Windows Vista, while evolving and refining the substantial investments in platform technology in Windows Vista into the next generation of Windows"

Whats in a name anyways?

Asus Eee Touch Screen

2008-10-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

According to an article on Giz, Asus is allowing pre-orders of their new "tablet"-esque PC. The stats are listed as "1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB hard drive and 15-inch screen running Windows XP."

This promises to be an over priced, under usable, piece of hap-hazard designed hardware, aimed at those who can't afford real tablet PC's.

Again, this is if Asus lives up to it's promise...we shall see.

Apple Rumors, Get Your Apple Rumors Here!

2008-10-13T05:44:00.001-07:00

Follow this link to get your hands on the latest, but not greatest Apple rumors to date!

OLO: iPhone Netbook?

2008-10-13T05:32:00.001-07:00

For those of you who thought the latest iPhone would render the end of the know universe things may be getting worse.

It seems that some company, OLO, would like to merge the iPhones capabilities into a netbook. While that me sound like a good idea, what does Apple think? I would believe that Apple would be doing this long before I'd believe some random company, especially one I have never heard of.

The concept isn't too bad if you think about it. A uber cool phone turned into a mediocre netbook. The price points should remaining the same, if not go up.

Eventually we will hear more about this, until then, just worry about the next Macbook Air.

Link here.

Asus Eee May Soon Have Touch Screen

2008-10-09T05:11:00.000-07:00

According to Giz, Asus will begin to show off it's next Eee design...the touch screen model. The article also hints at other future changes for the compact low cost laptop, including Dual Core Intel Atom processors.

AMD Breaks Up

2008-10-07T09:59:00.001-07:00

According to a post on Gizmodo, it looks as if AMD will break its company into 2 parts: One for chip production and one for chip design.

According to the article, "The new firm, known as the Foundry Company for now, will makes chips for other companies as well as AMD, who will continue to own 44 percent of it."

It sounds like a sound move if your chip production is a large drain on resources and cash flow. How this will affect the chip makers chips and profits will, hopefully, be beneficial to us all.

Linux Netbooks Are Returned 4X More Than Win XP Versions, Says MSI

2008-10-06T05:49:00.000-07:00

For some reason, I believe there is someone out there screaming "I TOLD YOU SO!" According to the article, it seems the main reason people are returning these is that they get the machine, realize it's not XP, then realize they have no idea what they're doing or how to use it.

$300 is a good deal for a small compact netbook. But if you can't use it due to your lack of Linux skills, maybe the $400 XP option is better.

AMD + DirectX 11

2008-10-03T05:32:00.000-07:00

According to Gizmodo, it seems that AMD is expecting DirectX compatible GPU's to be available in 2009.

If your in to obvious stuff, it also looks like they're expecting Windows 7 in 2009 too...[PIC]

Samsung SSD Survives Free Fall

2008-09-30T05:12:00.000-07:00

For those of you who enjoy the painful and untimely death (or at least murder attempt) of electronics, this video is for you.

It seems that there is no end to how to get attention for your product, or simply prove someone wrong, big time.

Samsung dropped one of there SSD's 3 stories, plugged it into a laptop, and it still worked. That's some hot stuff right there.

link here

Netbooks Big on Amazon.com

2008-09-25T06:46:00.001-07:00

This is a pretty good link from Gizmodo about how Amazon has jumped on the "we sell Netbooks!" bandwagon.

What I think is funny though is how hard it is to buy a Netbook via like Best Buy or Circuit City. Seriously, does any physical store actually carry more than say 2 Netbooks or more than 1 model of them?

For how popular these seem to be, they are hard to find outside of the interweb!

Asus Eee Going 3G

2008-09-25T06:23:00.000-07:00

According to Gizmodo, the Asus Eee 901 computer will be getting a sizable upgrade in the near future...3G.

"The 3.75G chip will be in all 901s that ship from October onward.

Claiming 7.2 Mbps down/2 Mbps up over the air, the updated 901's chipset should work with AT&T's network here in the states. Currently the 901 goes for around $500 in its various flavors—and Asus is not mentioning any price changes at the moment for the 3G-packing models." [Gizmodo]

Cd's Replaced By "SlotMusic"?

2008-09-23T06:03:00.001-07:00

According to some reports, the age of CDs' may be in the final stages of life. While it is doubtful that anyone would disagree with this considering the surge over the last 10 years of digital music downloads and MP3 players, the trend that may drive the last nail might be.

According to a report on Fox News, the latest trend is Micro SD cards, preloaded with the album. The music would have no copyright protection. The report says that the Micro SD card may be as large as 1GB.

This has been tried previously with USB jump drives. These came preloaded with music and some cover art on the drive itself, or at least on the packaging.

So here is the obvious question: If one wanted, could you rip the music from the card, wipe the card clean and reuse it?

Although this is not a bad idea, why would anyone who doesn't need a new Micro SD card buy one with music, when they can download the same music for a possible lower price?

More I'm A PC Commercial Goodness

2008-09-21T16:55:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, I finally saw one of the new Microsoft "I'm a PC" ads. Actually I saw two. I was impressed with the simplistic "everyone in the commercial is a PC, because they use PCs'" storyline.

The fact that they did not try and mimic the Apple ads entirely is a good tribute to the ability for the Microsoft folks to do something at least partially original. I also liked the fact that the first person you see is the Microsoft employee saying "I'm a PC and I am a stereotype." That was beautiful and very realistic.

The only issue I have with the approach was that one of the commercials featured Bill Gates, or B.G as one hip young gentleman referred to him as. In my mind, if you are trying to change the common view of your company, don't show or mention the previous master of the company. Although I have nothing against Bill Gates, I think that too some people he personifies Microsoft and their ills.

Again, I loved the commercials, even with B.G. And I have to say, like in the commercials...I'm a PC.

I'm A PC - New Microsoft Commercials

2008-09-19T12:43:00.000-07:00

Although i have yet to see one of these commercials, it does sound a little cheesy what Microsoft is doing.

From what I have gathered, it seems Microsoft is taking the funny, witty and some times inaccurate "I'm A PC" commercials from Apple, back at Apple with some re-tooling. They found a guy, who works for Microsoft, and are making pro-Microsoft ads with him as the "PC." Sounds like a bad game to me.

Compared to the latest ads with shoes and Seinfeld, I think this might be a better, but still bad idea. If you want to show people why Vista is good, show them why Vista is good. If you want to show why Apple is bad, then show how Apple is bad. These are both doable without the grade school antics.

I guess I just don't understand why you would mock a very popular string of ads trying to getthem to work for your cause. It's like the old 5th grade saying of "I know you are but what am I?"

Anyone who hates Vista hates it because of someone they know, knows someone who had an issue with it. I was weary at first, but I have found myself liking it quite a bit since I have had it over the last four months.

I know several people quite happy with it. I also know several die hard Apple people as well. If people are going to make a decision on which PC to buy, they will make it, commercials or not.

Samsung Joins Netbook Makers With NC10

2008-09-19T05:13:00.000-07:00

Yet another pretty entry in the competition for the best Netbook, this time by Samsung. So far, the specs I have found are:

"A 10.2-inch offering, the WSVGA LED display has a resolution of 1024 x 600, the NC10 weighs in at 1.33kg with a 6 cell battery (that claims up to 8 hours juice) and boasts a "normal-size, ergonomic" notebook PC style keyboard.

With an Intel Atom processor, the netbook will offer Microsoft Windows XP Home and either an 80GB or 160GB hard disk drive.

The NC10 offers 802.11b/g wireless LAN, 10/100 Ethernet LAN and optional Bluetooth 2.0+EDR.

Others specs include webcam, 3-in-1 multi-memory card reader, a VGA connection, mic in, headphone out and three USB ports. " [Pocket-Lint]

Sounds like a goody, but still on par with everyone else. Estimated price: around $590.

Internet Explorer 8 Beta

2008-09-18T05:08:00.004-07:00

Although I am sure it has been available for awhile, Internet Explorer 8 is available for download. Some of the more notable upgrades are:

Some of these features match up to features recently released for Google's Chrome.

IE 7 was a good break from the older versions that lacked multiple tabs, and plug in issues. Hopefully IE 8 will make similar strides with video, security and the overall Internet experience

download

Toshiba's New Netbook

2008-09-18T05:08:00.003-07:00

According to a post on Gizmodo, Toshiba is entering the Netbook, or UMPC, market. The specs look decent, and the price tag is comparable to every body else's, around $500, but to me, that's not the issue.

If one were to look at the name of the post itself, "Toshiba Releases Their Obligatory Netbook", one would see the word obligatory. This word seems to reference that they must sell one of these Netbooks'.

That in itself is my issue. Why must every computer company sell the same hardware at the same price in the same market? If I was designing a netbook, it would be quite a bit different in hardware specs and price compared to the ones being sold now, which are nothing more than glorified laptops.

Anyone who has read my earlier posts on how Netbooks are just cheap laptops knows where I am coming from. For those who don't, search the blog and it'll give you a better idea. If you still don't follow, ask me!

Windows 7: Updated[Micorosft News]

2008-09-18T05:08:00.002-07:00

Although this is not a huge chunk of new or earth shattering news, it is still interesting and somewhat informative.

According to a post on Gizmodo, it seems that Windows 7 will look and feel a lot like Windows Vista. I am not sure if that is a bad thing, or if it is supposed to scare off the anti-vista crowd.

The article also states that Windows 7 Beta will be out around December, gearing for a 2009 release.

Ad: I' am a PC [Pic]

2008-09-18T05:08:00.001-07:00

This is posted on Gizmodo's site. It seems to be some part of a pro Windows campaign. Interesting...a PC, in the ocean, kickin' it with sharks?

Wonder what Microsoft is up to...

How Apple Decides Which Apps To Use For iPhone [Pics]

2008-09-17T13:26:00.001-07:00

Instructions to Load OSX on Eee PC

2008-09-17T07:57:00.000-07:00

I am not sure what would possess someone to try this, outside of being crazy about Macs, but Giz has posted some information about how to install Mac OS X on an Asus Eee.

A Microsoft Product Manager's Vista Confessions

2008-09-12T05:16:00.001-07:00

For all of the anti-Vista static floating around out in the world these days, I still have yet to see any large or in depth list of Vista issues or failures.

The article posted here at Giz seems to have several issues lined out, not all of which are listed as Microsoft's fault.

To me this is kinda like when GW Bush declared Iraq had WMD's. Then people said where are they?!? And he really didn't have much to show them.

This is Mac fanboys and Microsoft haters saying "look at all the issues Vista has!" And I am saying, "where are they? What are the issues?!?"

And they really don't have much to show me.

HiVision Shows Off Sub-$100 Linux Mini Laptop

2008-09-10T05:20:00.000-07:00

I am not sure how legitimate most of these articles are, considering I cannot find a company web page for HiVision, or for any of its products. Most of what I have read both intrigues me and makes the product and its company seem very allusive.

None the less, if this is a true product that can be / will be purchasable in stores soon...this could very well be your UMPC / Low cost laptop winner.

According to Gizmodo, "For $98, you get a MIPS-based processor, 1GB flash storage, 3 USB ports, Ethernet, an SDHC card reader, WiFi, audio in and out, voice-chat and Firefox browser support on a Linux user interface. "

That's not a 95% laptop like you get with most other UMPC's. It is truly a MID, or a simple tool on the go.

In my opinion, the price seems to reflect the usefulness of the product. It is not damn near a full fledged laptop, therefore, it doesn't cost as much as one does (or close to it)!

To this blogger / techy, this is where the OLPC team should've ended up. This is the on laptop for Everyone!

iTunes 8 Causing Huge Problems, BSOD for Vista Users

2008-09-10T05:15:00.001-07:00

If anyone had any doubts out there that it's not just Microsoft that doesn't play well with others, read this article about Apple causing Havoc on Vista machines.

In my opinion, it is not up to Microsoft to design an OS suitable for iTunes. It is Apples' job to write software for their products based on the OS being used.

Again, just my opinion.

New iPod Nano...Possibly

2008-09-08T07:10:00.000-07:00

Is this the new iPod Nano? Is if a fake or a knock-off?

Several of these images have been popping up around the Internet over the last week or so. These are some of the latest from Gizmodo.

My question is:

If this is the next great iPod Nano, would you drop $200 - $300 on it?

Apple Gives Details on Original iPod Design...Not By Apple?!

2008-09-08T07:04:00.000-07:00

According to Gizmodo, the inspiration for the Apple iPod Nano wasn't an Apple creation...it was some British nobody's.

Actually, his name is Kane Kramer, and he is credited with one of the first, if not the first modern portable music player.

Due to a lack of investment and funding, his idea went no where. He is now aiding Apple in a court dispute.

Google Reader

2008-09-05T06:06:00.001-07:00

Google Reader has been out, and probably in Beta, for a while now. Since I am a quasi-Google fanboy, I surprised myself by not knowing it even existed!

Basically, Google reader allows you to attach all of your desired feeds (i.e. RSS) to one beautiful, gmail looking web page for easy access. It is free, and very easy to use.

Adding feeds is almost as easy as searching for new ones. You don't even need to know the exact name of a feed to "subscribe" to it.

If you have several blogs you follow that have feeds, I would recommend giving Google's Reader a try, even if your not a Google fanboy.

Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Available Now: Windows XP $399, Ubuntu $349

2008-09-04T05:10:00.001-07:00

While this isn't earth shattering news, Dell is on the UMPC-Low cost-laptop kick like most other manufacturers, and now has there little gem on sale.

With an Intel Atom processor and a 4 - 16 GB SSD, this mini-Dell is a direct competitor with the Eee. But since it is a Dell, that may have some iffy users thinking twice about not buying one of these machines.

Here is the Giz link.

'Spark' UMPC Looks...Interesting

2008-09-03T05:45:00.001-07:00

According to Gizmodo, this is a new comer to the UMPC market geared at educational and low end use.

While it may look a little alien, it seems to have more of an iPhone look and feel than that of a computer.

Chrome Review 1: Google Chrome Is Sweet, Fast Explorer

2008-09-03T05:10:00.000-07:00

For those who want to check out Google's Chrome Internet explorer, here is the link.

For starters, it took Chrome barely a second to load once I had it installed. Instead of a link bar for inputting URL's and addresses, it is actually a search bar, using Google to search for a site based on your input.

You can also create what is referred to as an Application Shortcut. Basically, this turns a web page showing some content, like e-mail, and creates an icon to start chrome, and go directly to that e-mail website, like it was running an application. This is similar to having a page book marked, but instead of storing the bookmark in the Internet explorer, it saves it as an application execution icon.

Another neat feature is the Incognito browsing option. This option stores nothing about your Internet exploring: no cookies, passwords, history...nothing. The window has a darker color to stand it apart from the other pages. This is a good tool for using online banking or online purchases.

So far I have been very impressed with the overall functionality and speed of Chrome.

Recommendation: Heavy internet users should give Chrome a heavy work out.

Video of The New LG X110 Netbook

2008-09-02T05:55:00.000-07:00

Here is a video clip of the new LG X110 Netbook.

Google's Possible New Browser?

2008-09-02T05:42:00.001-07:00

According to an article on Giz, this is a rendition of what could be Google's new open-sourced desktop browser. The people I have seen use it say it rivals Firefox 3 in speed and features.

Giz reports "..predict a Google Browser soon, maybe as soon as tomorrow, that is open sourced, with an intelligent "omni" search/address bar, a multithreaded javascript engine called v8, and tabs on the top of windows." [Gizmodo]

I am under the impression that this might have a counterpart in the works for Android. It would be sweet if they did a desktop app as well though.

Is The New Lowcost Tablet PC Market Heating Up?

2008-08-29T05:42:00.001-07:00

Could this be the face of the next low cost PC generation? This, according to Gizmodo's site, is the latest low cost tablet PC from NEC.

The low cost term comes solely from the specs, which rival anything in the low cost laptop market (Asus Eee, Acer, Intel, etc.)

For those in this market searching for a good deal, would this perk your interest, or make you drown your sorrows with a hackintosh?

802.11r Standards Completed Before 802.11n

2008-08-29T05:27:00.000-07:00

According to an article on Gizmodo, the new standard for 802.11r, for wireless roaming, has been finalized before 802.11n. This is pretty sad considering n has been in the market for at least 2 years now.

MID vs. UMPC vs. Lowcost Laptops

2008-08-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

My current search to find the difference between Mobile Internet Devices (MID's), Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) and Low cost Laptops has lead me to one simple conclusion:

They are all the same, depending on how much you want to spend.

For those out there wondering how this is, given the wide variances in the acronyms, allow me to justify my claim.

What do all 3 of these competitors have in common?

They can get you to the Internet, typically via Wi-Fi.
They are fairly low cost, low end hardware.
They tend to be smaller form factors.

While some run a variant of Linux, typically Ubuntu, most can be purchased or upgraded to run Windows XP. The hardware is designed to run at lower voltages to increase battery performance. The packaging is designed to be small, easily transported yet usable.

What makes them different from one another, however, is the marketing plunge that can spell success or failure.

MID's tend to look more like over sized Blackberry's - photo.
UMPC's can look like a cross between a PDA Phone and a Tablet PC.
Lowcost laptops, or subnotebooks, look like smaller, lighter laptops.

In the end, to me anyways, the classification of the device you are purchasing has less to do with the abilities and capabilities it has as much as it does whether or not it will fit into a coat pocket or does it need a notebook bag.

Acer - Aspire One Laptop on Sale At Best Buy

2008-08-25T10:44:00.000-07:00

I saw this add in the weekend Best Buy adds. It is the Acer Aspire One Notebook, a competitor with the Asus Eee and such. The price tag alone had me very interested as it runs around $100 to $150 less than the comparable Eee.

The specs are very nice for the price, if you would desire an Intel Atom over a Centrino or C& processor.

Product Features
Intel® Atom™ processor N270Features a 533MHz frontside bus, 512KB cache and 1.6GHz processor speed.
1GB PC5300 DDR2 memory For multitasking power, expandable to 2GB.
Note: Optical drive not included Optional external DVD-ROM drive available (not included).
8.9" WSVGA widescreen display with Acer CrystalBrite technology and 1024 x 600 resolution Showcases movies, games and other images.
160GB SATA hard drive (5400 rpm)Offers spacious storage options and fast read/write times.
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950for lush images. High-definition audio support with 2 built-in stereo speakers.
Built-in 0.3-megapixel Acer Crystal Eye webcam Makes it easy to chat with and send video mail to family and friends.
Digital media reader Supports Secure Digital, reduced size Multi Media Card, Multi Media Card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO and xD-Picture Card.
3 high-speed USB 2.0 ports For fast digital video, audio and data transfer.
Built-in high-speed InviLink 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity Lets you wirelessly connect to the Internet.
Weighs 2.2 lbs. and measures 1.1" thinFor lightweight portability.
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition operating system preinstalled With Acer eRecovery Management, Acer Launch Manager and Adobe Reader software.

Here is the link I found on the website.

Apple Fails To Convert Windows Guy...Due To iPhone

2008-08-25T07:42:00.001-07:00

For any would be iPhone buyers out there, this one guys review may change your mind about your decision. I know several people who are less than hyped about the performance of the oh so hyped iPhone, especially the 3G version.

One quote from this guys review is very interesting: "As for when all of these bugs will be fixed, the guy on the phone said 'Sooner or later it'll be working to its full potential.' "

This is in relation to various issues he encountered with the iPhones abilities. This is fairly humerous considering all of the badgering Windows gets for it's bugs, which can be many, and it's lack of customer service, which is deplorable at best.

Now this guy is a devoted Windows user and, like so many Windows peeps, is very warry of switching.

Here is the link to his pseudo review.

Everun: The Latest UMPC Challenger

2008-08-12T05:11:00.000-07:00

This little UMPC is causing quite a stir on the low cost, low performing laptop market. Although the price is not yet out for this laptop, if it can stay in the low $300 to $400 range, I think we will see a change in direction from the current trends, including small scale, low energy processors.

The specs below are from Gizmodo:

• CPU: AMD Turion 64x2 Dual Core 1.2GHz, 1MB L2 Cache

• Graphic: ATI RS690E +64MB DDR2 Side port Memory, Full DirectX 9.0 support

• Memory: 1GB DDR2

• OS: Microsoft Window XP Home

• Display: 7-inch

• Dual monitor: supporting external display up to 1920x1200

• Storage: 60GB 1.8 inch HDD/UDMA100

• Wireless Connectivity: 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR

• Camera: 1.3M pixel CMOS

• Media Card: SD/MMC Slot

• Audio: ALC262 HD Audio

• Expansion Slot: 2xUSB host, 1 x USB mini, 1x mini PCIExpress Slot, USIM card slot

• Battery life: 2.5 Hours for web-surfing

• Size: 7.87 x 4.65 x 1.08 inches

Intel Nehalem Chip Moniker Begets "Core i7" Branding

2008-08-11T05:13:00.001-07:00

A goog clip from Gizmodo giving some more information concerning the new "Nehalem" Quad Core chip from Intel.

P.I.C.N.I.C

2008-08-06T13:11:00.000-07:00

PICNIC (Problem In Chair Not In Computer)

Enough said...

Lenovo's Ideapad S10 Ultra-Portable Notebook PC Gets Official, Due in September

2008-08-04T05:22:00.000-07:00

Looks like Lenovo is fully getting into the UMPC low cost laptop market.

The specs on this forthcoming machine are on par with what we have seen before: "...Windows XP pre-installed, measure 9.8 x 7.2 inches, weigh just 2.4-pounds in its lightest configuration, and pack in a LED back-lit 10-inch screen. Powered by Intel Atom N270 and 945 GSE express chipset..." [Gizmodo]

It's nice to see all the competition and such for Asus, but when will someone be able to compete price wise with them (i.e., a model that is decent, yet under $250.) Around $300 is still the bench mark. That, I believe, is still too high for most PC users. Again, I can add $100 to it and get a real PC or low end laptop.

Google vs. Cuil

2008-07-31T10:20:00.001-07:00

I am not sure how many of you out there have tried, or heard of Cuil, pronounced "cool", the Google challenger for search engines. I have tried it and I have to tell you, it might be pretty, but it doesn't always find what you're looking for.

Example, I searched for the upcoming Sylvania MESO. Here are the links to the results pages for Google and Cuil.

Google results

Cuil results

I am not sure how else to compare the two result sets: 23,200 matches vs. 0.

I know Cuil does look impressive and has a cool (no pun intended) feel to it, but I am thinking that with over 121 BILLION pages indexed, it should have found something! Maybe it's just me!

What do you think about Cuil?

Cuil is Google Rival From Ex-Google employees

2008-07-28T05:49:00.000-07:00

The new search engine site Cuil opened today. As the pic shows, it has over 121 BILLION pages at your disposal. I searched Google and got several thousand results.

According to Giz, this site was created by former Google employees. The site is pure black and blue loveliness. Simple, yet effective. Just like...Googles'!

Time will tell how well this venture will fly. It can't be any worse than MSN Search!

Microsofts' Pro Vista Campaign Gets Users' To Love Vista

2008-07-25T05:27:00.000-07:00

According to a post on Gizmodo, it seems Microsoft has gone to a strange form of "Gotcha!" to prove to users that Vista isn't all that bad.

Microsoft had a focus group test drive a "new" OS called Mojave. The users seemed to love it. The punch line? The "new" OS was Vista.

My favorite part of this article is the quote "how much of the Vista hate is really just sheeple bleating what everyone else is?" This is a quote from the Giz article.

I have been beating that drum for weeks. Maybe now some people will actually try the brussel sprouts before judging them.

Spyware Fail

2008-07-24T08:47:00.000-07:00

Because sometimes you know it's true!

Microsoft's Vista "Doesn't Suck" Campaign

2008-07-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

Although I think this picture is not a good choice for an analogy, it still makes a direct and good point: Not everyone who told you Vista sucks knows #@*! about Vista.

Gizmodo has put this article on their site and has filled it with a lot of small snide remarks like "I can think of a lot of other future installments, like "At one point, everyone thought witches walked among us" or "At one point, people thought they could turn lead into gold," or "At one point, people thought that it was a good idea to shit into ditches alongside the city streets." " [Gizmodo.com]

I have believed for many months that Vista is a good, solid OS. I know at least one person who has had his rear saved by Vista Ultimate's Shadow Copy feature. Of course, their are bound to be some bugs and issues with an OS that can span over 17GB of disk space. To believe any Mac OS release is bug free, is arrogant and ignorant (see Mac Time Machine Bugs.)

In the end, the user's, not the press or bloggers (including myself), need to decide how well Vista meets their needs. If I had the $$$ to buy a Mac, I probably would give it heavy consideration. But I don't, so I can't buy one. Of course my opinion is one sided.

Hopefully Microsoft will work hard to separate real issues and performance bugs from rumors and mere speculation in the coming weeks.

BTW, does anyone know what this means: "The campaign basically writes itself—why don't you guys give is a whirl." [Gizmodo]

Asus Eee 1000H On Sale!

2008-07-21T05:37:00.001-07:00

We knew it would eventually happen. The inevitable fall of Asus prices for their over priced laptops.

According to Gizmodo, Newegg has dropped the price of the Eee 1000H by $100. That's not too bad, but still not as good as a brand new Compaq or Dell.

Anton: 512-Processor Supercomputer Being Built to Simulate Molecules, Drugs

2008-07-08T11:39:00.000-07:00

Gizmodo has posted an article on a supercomputer called "Anton." This supercomputer has 512 processors! That's a lot more than your puny dual-core or even your quad-core. Check the link for details.

Windows Vista Ready Boost vs. RAM Upgrade

2008-07-08T11:27:00.001-07:00

Just wondering what some of your thoughts are out there on the ReadyBoost technology Microsoft has deployed in versions of Vista.

The poll closes July 31st, 2008.

Asus Eee 901 Now Available

2008-07-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

The Asus Eee 901 is now shipping, according to Gizmodos' website. The specs are as follows:

Atom processor

1GB of RAM

12GB of SSD

Linux Distro (Have yet to see a XP version.)

This will cost you $599.99. Hmm...That seems kinda steep for such a small spec'd laptop. If you go to Amazons' website, you can find the same model minus the Linux distro, plus XP Home for the same price.

You can also get the 900 20G for $549 and the MSI Wind
MSI Wind 10" Mini Laptop (1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, XP Home, 3 Cell Battery) Black for $499.

I am not saying just because it has better specs and is cheaper that it is better...I am just saying shop around!